Jacob Francy, '26
Ever since Ron DeSantis was elected as Governor of Florida in 2018, he has made the state one of the biggest headline-makers in the nation. DeSantis claims he fights the “woke mob” while signing bills that all the Democrats fight. He has easily been one of the most recent controversial political figures in America besides Former President Trump. Let’s look at what DeSantis has done in his 5-6 years as Florida’s leader and what he could do as President if elected in the 2024 Election.
Lowered Corporate Income Tax
DeSantis has signed multiple HUGE tax relief acts, covering billions of dollars each signing of legislation.
Banned Critical Race Theory; Allows parents to sue school if they teach it to their children
The W.O.K.E Act disallows any teacher or professor to educate students about the marginalization of people in minority groups, a.k.a. basic U.S. History. Many schools from Florida have stated that the W.O.K.E. Act changed nothing as schools never taught solely about one race’s marginalization.
Signed 15-week Abortion Ban
DeSantis signed an abortion ban in “most cases” after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently debating the legality. He also included a clause that stated, “providing” an “illegal” abortion punishable up to 5 years in jail.
12th highest COVID death rate in the U.S.
With no mask, vaccine requirements, or even recommendations during the COVID-19 outbreak, Florida surged to the top quarter of states in COVID rates, which is uniquely scary considering the large population of elderly residents in the state.
Banned Transgender people from playing sports with their identifying gender
DeSantis signed another bill from the state legislature that no longer allowed trans-athletes to compete in the same gender leagues as they identify. This is still a highly debated topic today.
Signed “Don’t Say Gay” Bill
DeSantis signed an extension to the Don’t Say Gay Bill earlier this year, which bans the teaching or even mentioning different sexual orientations for 12th graders and below.
Put much more funding in civil law enforcement
Governor DeSantis added over 2,000 bonuses for law enforcement on state and city levels, including a $5,000 recruitment bonus for out-of-state recruits. He also included financial stability, upward mobility, excellent health and retirement benefits, student loan forgiveness programs, home loan programs and more.
Signed “Anti-sanctuary city” bill
DeSantis, with this bill, denied any city in Florida the ability to host any immigrants without Federal/State authority.